[beginnerSTi05]

I have been driving my sti for a while now just normal driving-basic shifting downshifting , etc. I wanted to try out rev-matching and double clutching. I searched and read numerous post from here on how to rev match and double-clutch.

when rev matching what to what revs am i suppose to match it too? ( this is my first manual car )
the posts dont say too what revs i should blip it too, so i need some help guys/gals.

if your on 3 gear @30mph and want to downshift to 2nd gear what rev do you blip the throttle too ?

if your on 4 gear @40mph and want to downshift to 3rd gear what rev do you blip the throttle too ?

if your on 5 gear @50mph and want to downshift to 4rd gear what rev do you blip the throttle too ?

everytime i try to rev match I've blipped it to 2 k rpms then shift to lower gear, but it starts to engine break instead.

thanks in advance

[Stargazer]

Originally Posted by beginnerSTi05

everytime i try to rev match I've blipped it to 2 k rpms then shift to lower gear, but it starts to engine break instead.

Keep in mind, when you are shifting to a lower gear, the RPM will be higher. Also 2000 RPM? That's really low.

What I do when I'm rev matching is I press in the clutch and step on the gas pedal about 1 quarter to 1 half of the way down (depending on my speed) and release it really quickly. The revs usually goes up to 4000-6000 RPM (once again I adjust that depending on my speed). As soon as I realease the gas, I start easing up on the clutch until it engages and then I'm off the clutch. I find that makes it the most smooth for me and the gear changes are almost imperceivable. I do that for any gear that I'm down shifting to (except first).

I haven't tried heel-toe shifting yet because I'm not sure I'm coordinated enough .

[Neanderthal Racing]

give a man a fish or teach a man to fish (i prefer the latter).

do this one yourself:

to figure out what rpm to blip to when you downshift:
- establish a particular speed in a given gear (3rd, 4th, or 5th) and check the rpm.
-do the same speed in the next highest gear and check the rpm. obviously it will be a lower rpm.
- while in the higher gear, depress the clutch and blip the throttle to whatever rpm matches what you saw at the same speed while in the lower gear and downshift to it.

you just rev matched perfectly. eventually you'll be doing it without a whole lot of thought.

[Neanderthal Racing]

Originally Posted by Stargazer

I haven't tried heel-toe shifting yet because I'm not sure I'm coordinated enough

heel and toe is easy. it is just rev matching while braking at the same time.

the ball of your foot stays over the brake pedal; the blade of your foot stays over the gas. get used to angling your foot funny.

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/how...2/article.html

[Ol'SaltyBastard]

First,

Don't think about it when you do it. Practice first by tapping the throttle when you downshift; don't worry about trying to do this when braking as that will come later. This helps you "Feel" the sweetspot, just as you learn how to drive a stick shift with the radio blasting and the A/C on full. Once you get this down pretty well, as you are braking normally and downshifting, give the throttle a little tap. Everyone is different; I find "Heel-toeing" a waste of movement and use the ball of my foot on the brake and the edge of my foot on the gas. Braking is much more controlled (for me anyways) rather than all that foot movement.

Now you are ready for the big test. Try a single downshift on an exit ramp using semi heavy braking. The trick is to keep the RPMs up. Doing this at low RPMs tends to make the car jerk around. Try this: As you approach the off ramp, put it in fourth and tap the gas (stay off the brake.) When you get to the point where you need to brake, do so and blip the throttle as you are making your downshift. This is much more difficult to explain than it is to do. Within two weeks, you will have pretty much gotten it down pat, and after a month, you will wonder why on Earth everyone makes such a big deal about it. Happy driving!!

[Neanderthal Racing]

Originally Posted by Ol'SaltyBastard

I find "Heel-toeing" a waste of movement and use the ball of my foot on the brake and the edge of my foot on the gas.

what you are describing IS heel and toe. you don't actually use your heel or your toe. you are using your ball and blade (outside edge) on most pedal setups, including ours.

[LOLSTi]

Originally Posted by BruceChapman

what you are describing IS heel and toe. you don't actually use your heel or your toe. you are using your ball and balde (outside edge) on most pedal setups, including ours.

exactly. If our brake/gas pedals were spread farther apart then we would actually "heel/toe".

[Ol'SaltyBastard]

Originally Posted by BruceChapman

what you are describing IS heel and toe. you don't actually use your heel or your toe. you are using your ball and blade (outside edge) on most pedal setups, including ours.

The reason I stated this is that if you watch the Japanese car shows (they've got some cool ones) they put a small box in the corner showing the driver's footwork. Now, don't get me wrong- ANY of those guys could outdrive me on their worst day in their sleep; I just find that they actually move their feet around more than necessary (for me anyways.) Like the guy above stated, it would also depend on how the pedals in the car are set up. I think the STi has an awesome pedal arrangement making the footwork much more simple than the Sentra I used to own. My foot wasn't wide enough even with huge steel toed Red Wing boots on.

[beginnerSTi05]

Originally Posted by BruceChapman

give a man a fish or teach a man to fish (i prefer the latter).

do this one yourself:

to figure out what rpm to blip to when you downshift:
- establish a particular speed in a given gear (3rd, 4th, or 5th) and check the rpm.
-do the same speed in the next highest gear and check the rpm. obviously it will be a lower rpm.
- while in the higher gear, depress the clutch and blip the throttle to whatever rpm matches what you saw at the same speed while in the lower gear and downshift to it.

you just rev matched perfectly. eventually you'll be doing it without a whole lot of thought.

Thanks for the great advice!!
I will try this out ASAP. this helps me out tremendously. again thanks!!

[GSRREP]

Originally Posted by Ol'SaltyBastard

The reason I stated this is that if you watch the Japanese car shows (they've got some cool ones) they put a small box in the corner showing the driver's footwork.

have you noticed how they religiously put their left foot on the "dead pedal" or that spot to the left of the clutch EVERY time they arent using it? I began to notice it and saw that most of them do it. kinda interesting as my left foot is always lightly resting/touching my clutch ya know?

[mike_]

Originally Posted by GSRREP

have you noticed how they religiously put their left foot on the "dead pedal" or that spot to the left of the clutch EVERY time they arent using it? I began to notice it and saw that most of them do it. kinda interesting as my left foot is always lightly resting/touching my clutch ya know?

Potentially early wear/tear on the clutch etc, by resting your foot there.

[Muffnbluff]

Originally Posted by GSRREP

have you noticed how they religiously put their left foot on the "dead pedal" or that spot to the left of the clutch EVERY time they arent using it? I began to notice it and saw that most of them do it. kinda interesting as my left foot is always lightly resting/touching my clutch ya know?

You don't want your foot to be resting on the clutch when you're not using it, doesn't take much pressure to slightly engage it and no point in adding extra wear to the clutch.

[Stargazer]

Originally Posted by Ol'SaltyBastard

I just find that they actually move their feet around more than necessary (for me anyways.)

Well, after reading that link at Edmunds, I was practicing with the engine off while I was waiting for my wife outside Costco yesterday . It's definitely a movement that I'm not used to, but what worked for me the best was the way that I saw them do it in those shows. I pressed the upper portion of the brake and when I twisted my heel out I was totally able to blip the gas pedal easily. Any other way and my foot seemed to get caught up on the mats or something and it didn't feel right.

So now I have to try it while I'm moving .

Edit (I'm too slow): Anyway, I thought resting your foot on the clutch (even lightly) causes extra wear? I "religiously" put my left foot on the dead pedal too. It's gets too sore hovering above the clutch pedal.

[Earl]

Originally Posted by GSRREP

have you noticed how they religiously put their left foot on the "dead pedal" or that spot to the left of the clutch EVERY time they arent using it? I began to notice it and saw that most of them do it. kinda interesting as my left foot is always lightly resting/touching my clutch ya know?

When i first drove cars, my dad would yell at me coz used the clutch pedal as my (left) foot rest. Had to break that habit early

I also noticed that during aggressive driving, keeping my left foot planted on the dead pedal helps me brace myself or a relaxed position while cruising. Been using it since.

[DPG]

Contrary to what I heard when I first bought my 04,the STi tranny is by no means "bulletproof" and needs to be rev matched in order to save the synchros. In order to facilitate downshifting while under braking, you can attach a piece of aluminum (.75"x1.5"x.25") to the bottom of the throttle pedal that extends at a 90 degree angle towards the brake pedal. Basically, this "leg" enables you to blip the throttle with your heel with out rolling your foot too far.